Intraperitoneal fluid therapy: an alternative to intravenous treatment in a patient with limited vascular access

We describe a 58-year-old female with Crohn's disease and short bowel syndrome after repeated intestinal resections, with only 90 cm of small intestine left. She had been dependent on vascular access for total parenteral nutrition for 16 years. Due to intravascular complications after numerous long-term central venous catheters, her vascular accessibility became limited. During the course of a year she was fed enterally through a gastrostomy, but required supplementary fluid therapy through peripheral venous route. Because of extremely limited venous access, we decided to implant an intraperitoneal catheter for administration of crystalloid fluid. The first intraperitoneal catheter had to be removed because of a postoperative infection, but after antibiotic treatment, a second intraperitoneal catheter was implanted without complications, through which the patient is now fully provided with crystalloid fluid (Ringer's acetate). Abdominal ultrasound examination shows good absorption of the fluid, and for the first time in 16 years the patient does not need intravascular access. We suggest that intraperitoneal administration of fluid may be an alternative for patients with limited vascular access.